Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) awarded Girl Scout Syvonne Forgette of Buffalo, NY, its inaugural Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship in the amount of $2,060. Syvonne was selected because her Gold Award project demonstrated extraordinary leadership to drive lasting change in her community and beyond. She is a member of the local Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY) Council.

Syvonne’s Gold Award project established the first environmental club at her high school, City Honors (Buffalo, NY), because she wanted to change her peers’ relationship with the Earth. She worked with organizations such a Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers and Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve to provide learning opportunities for the club members.

So far, the club has done several cleanups around local waterways, planted trees, learned about watersheds, and more. “My project allowed City Honors Students to have a better understanding on how their actions affect the environment, and how small changes can make major differences,” said Syvonne.

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. The award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem, making these young women courageous leaders and visionary change makers.

GSUSA’s Gold Award Scholarship recognizes one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout per council whose project exemplifies the core components of the Gold Award. Syvonne’s outstanding project demonstrated measurable and sustainable impact and addressed an issue of national and/or global significance, proving that Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character truly do make the world a better place.

As a scholarship recipient, Syvonne received a $1,160 college scholarship from GSUSA, a $450 scholarship from the Kappa Delta Foundation who provides opportunities for girls to inspire action in their communities, and a $450 scholarship from Arconic Foundation who is dedicated to helping tomorrow’s leaders kick start their future. She also received recognition during GSUSA’s 2021 Girl Scouts Change the World celebration which hosts 10,000 girls, adult volunteers, and Gold Award recipients from across the country.

“Girl Scouts has given me the skills and support to find and pursue my passions,” said Syvonne. “I have loved every moment of my troop’s camping trips, earning badges, and working together towards our goals.” Syvonne is from Troop 30360 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 10 years.